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LAS VEGAS - In 1992, the PBR was founded as a means for creating
a better future for the sport of professional bull riding.

World Champions such as Ty Murray, Jim Sharp, Ted Nuce,
Jerome Davis, Cody Custer and Tuff
Hedeman stood united with the likes of legendary riders
Cody Lambert, Clint Branger, David Fournier, Aaron
Semas and 10 other great riders to form what they believed
was the foundation of a standalone sport they felt would one day
rival the mainstream sports seen on network television.

It was about looking ahead and working for a better
tomorrow.

Four years later, in 1996, with help of former PBR CEO
Randy Bernard, they created the Ring of Honor as a
way of recognizing the past.

Today the Ring of Honor symbolizes those who how have had a
profound impact on bull riding, both in and out of the arena.

Until now, 34 men had been inducted into this rather exclusive
club.

It started with the inaugural class, which included Jim
Shoulders and Harry Tompkins, along with
founders Lambert and Nuce. Tuesday evening, two additional
deserving men - Ross Coleman and Mike
White - slipped on the prestigious ring and stood
alongside the Heroes & Legends who rode before the PBR's
formation as well as in the PBR.

"When we came around, 20 guys had created this wonderful
standalone sport of bull riding," said Justin
McBride, a two-time World Champion and 2009 inductee into
the Ring of Honor. "They were in the twilight of their careers, and
they needed these young guys that were like-minded and had the same
work ethic and the same grit and determination, but had youth on
their side. Mike White was that guy. Chris Shivers
was that guy. And a guy that embodied that second to none, in my
opinion, this year's inductee into the Ring of Honor: Ross
Coleman."

Also honored on Tuesday, in a ceremony and reception held in the
Grand Ballroom at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa, were
Dillinger, Jackie Dunn and Tom Teague.

Dunn became the third woman to receive the Sharon Shoulders
Award since Ms. Shoulders was honored in 2009. Shoulders is the
widow of Jim Shoulders, who is commonly known as
the Babe Ruth of Rodeo.

Leanne Lambert received the honor last year, while Tiffany Davis
was honored in 2010.

Ms. Shoulders, who said she feels as though she's the PBR
matriarch, said that Dunn deserves to be honored, not just for
being the wife of a great bull rider, but also for the continued
work she's done for all bull riders.

Dunn, who is the wife of former World Champion Troy Dunn, has
been influential not only in terms of helping to grow the sport and
the PBR's presence in Australia, but has also played a key role in
helping riders like Brendon Clark and Ben
Jones make the transition from Down Under to competing in
the United States.

Her husband joked that anyone who spends time with her knows
what hard work is all about.

"I didn't think I was qualified for the job," said Jackie, who
is the vice president of PBR Australia. "Six years later I'm still
there."

Last year, the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award was
created to recognize those non-riders - stock contractors,
bullfighters, employees and others - who have contributed to the
global phenomenon that is known as the PBR.

It was only fitting the award be named after a 16-time World
Champion, who is widely recognized as the greatest Western athlete
of all time. Last year's first recipient was former bullfighter
Rob Smets.

Like Shoulders, Tom Teague has tirelessly worked to help make
the PBR what it is today.

Teague also talked about having written a research paper on Jim
Shoulders when he was in high school.

Bernard said that since meeting Teague, he's become more than a
friend. Teague has been an inspirational business partner and board
member.

It was Teague who fronted the PBR more than $3 million needed to
buy its television rights when no bank would give them the loan.
Hart said Teague has single-handedly done more for the PBR than any
other non-rider.

"I've been lucky and the good Lord blessed me," said a humbled
Teague, who explained the award meant more to him than any other
award he's received to date. "I'm very proud to be a part of the
PBR."

As great as the people who have been involved in the PBR have
been, so too have the bulls, and with good reason the Brand of
Honor was created, last year, to recognize the legendary bovine
athletes.

In 2011, it was Little Yellow Jacket, who was
recognized only months after passing away. This year, two-time
World Champion Bull Dillinger, who was recognized for a spirit and
skill that has surpassed even the highest expectations in the
PBR.

Adriano Moraes, the only three-time World Champion in PBR
history, said he tried setting a trap on one particular out, and
another time he rode Dillinger with his eyes closed. Neither time
he made the whistle on what he called, "One of the rankest
ever."

Two-time World Champion Chris Shivers, who rode Dillinger for
96.5 points at the 2001 World Finals, said when people ask whowas
the rankest bull he's ever ridden, he has a hard time telling them
Dillinger. While he wants to say it was Dillinger, he admitted that
"everything was in time" that night in Las Vegas, which made it
feel like "it was going to be 88 points."

Robbie Herrington, who purchased Dillinger two weeks after the
2000 World Finals, talked about the humble beginnings in which
Dillinger was originally purchased at a sale barn. After his
passing, Herrington said, "The memories linger forever."

However, what seems to connect the past to the present is the
simple fact that PBR riders have always seen to it that those who
come after will have more than they ever dreamed.

Two riders to exemplify that are White and Coleman, who are
known as much or more for what they continue to do for others as
they are for their own accomplishments in the arena.

Dickies DuraBullfighter Shorty Gorham talked about the two
annual events White hosts. There's a pasture roping at his ranch in
DeKalb, Texas, and a Touring Pro Division event in Lake Charles,
La., but Gorham said most folks don't know "is every bit of the
proceeds from both events goes to charity."

"When we came around, 20 guys had created this
wonderful standalone sport of bull riding; they were in the
twilight of their careers and they needed these young guys," said
Justin McBride.

For all the entertaining travel stories Shivers could share from
their 11 years on the road - and there are plenty - he choked up
talking about the fact that he looks up to White and respects him
as a man for what he does for those who are less fortunate.

Shivers shared some insight of the many hospital visits White
has made over the years.

"That means more to me than being a good bull rider," said
Shivers, who is retiring after this year's finals and a shoe-in to
become the 37th member of the prestigious Ring of Honor. "Being a
bull rider (isn't) everything."

White took the stage without a pre-written speech or even a list
of people to thank. He started by joking that the gravity of
Tuesday evening's reception "didn't dawn on me until I walked into
here tonight."

He thanked the 20 founders and said because of their foresight
and sacrifice, he was able to purchase a 600-acre ranch, which was
all he ever wanted.

"It's a great honor to get this ring," said White, who added
there are plenty of bull riders who have done more than him in the
area and are without the coveted Ring of Honor.

McBride said that his college rodeo teammate didn't have a
choice - he was born to be a cowboy.

But neither McBride nor Lambert dwelled on Coleman's
accomplishments in the arena - first rider to record 800 career
outs at the Built Ford Tough Series and the first to earn 400
qualified rides - instead, they talked about toughness, heart and
lending a helping hand.

They shared stories of how he affected people's lives. They talked
about the smile that lit up rooms from coast to coast. They talked
about how he's become an ambassador for the PBR.

Lambert said that knowing Coleman "makes me proud" because even
after retiring from competition he contributes to the PBR every
day. He later added, "There's nothing phony about him."

After receiving a standing ovation, not once but twice, Coleman
said, "This is a cool deal." He thanked his parents, Steve and
Kathy Coleman, along with his sisters, brothers, children and his
wife, Amy. He thanked the likes of Lambert and Murray as well as
Bernard and Teague.

Coleman credited his determination to succeed to the work ethic
exemplified by his father, "who outworks everyone in this
room."

On a night when an organization which prides itself on setting
the standards by which tomorrow will be compared, they took a
moment in time to look at their past and say, "Thank you."

Over the course of two hours one speaker after another used
adjectives like passion, heart, tough, cowboy, classy,
instrumental, respect, love, proud, inspirational and influential.
They talked about family and friends as well as having no excuses
and being great people.